Burnley men accused of rape: court

Two Burnley men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a child appeared before a district judge at the town’s magistrates court.

The pair are charged with offences alleged to have been committed against the girl between 1997 and 2000. They, another man also alleged to have abused the child and a fourth defendant accused of raping the alleged victim, were sent for trial and were conditionally bailed by District Judge James Clarke until a hearing at Burnley Crown Court on February 1st. The alleged offences took place in East Lancashire.

Abbas Khan (58), of Hubie Street, Burnley, is charged with six allegations of rape, between 1998 and 2000, three counts of indecent assault between 1997 and 1998 and six charges of indecent assault between 1998 and 2000.

Ijaz Khan (46), of Casterton Avenue, Burnley, is accused of rape between 1997 and 1998 and also faces eight allegations of indecent assault, between 1998 and 2000.

Javid Raza (57), of Crosshill Road, Blackburn, is accused of six charges of indecent assault between 1998 and 1999.

Nadeem Arif (37), of St James Court, Blackburn, is charged with raping a female aged 16 or over - the same alleged victim. Amin Akhtar (34), of HMP Forest Bank, faces an allegation of raping a female aged 16 or over and will also appear at Burnley Crown Court on February 1st.